January Same-Store Sales as Cold as the Weather

Retailers reporting January same-store sales Thursday are expected to show a rise of 2.3% compared with sales in January 2016.

Industry research firm Retail Metrics noted that same-store sales growth last January amounted to a gain of just 1.3%, so the year-over-year comparison should be an easy bar to clear. January is typically the least important month for retailers, both quarterly and for the year, so it’s best not to read too much into the reports.

Gap Inc. (NYSE: GPS) is expected to report its sales next Monday and to post a same-store sales increase of 2.1% across all its store brands, with Banana Republic stores dropping 2.5%.

Here are results from the stores we track:

Buckle Inc. (NYSE: BKE) reported same-store sales for January fell 17.6% compared with the same month a year ago. The Retail Metrics estimate called for sales to drop 13.1%. Net sales for all stores fell 17.2% and totaled $43.9 million for the month.

Buckle’s shares traded down about 1.1% at $20.85 Thursday morning. The stock’s 52-week range is $19.95 to $35.02.

L Brands also said this morning that it would pay its normal quarterly dividend of $0.60 per share and reported that it has authorized a $250 share buyback program, including $62 million remaining in its previously authorized program. The company said it repurchased $438 million in stock during 2016.

L Brands’ shares dropped more than 2% to $57.48 early Thursday, a new 52-week low. The 52-week high is $95.94.